Convicted felon found with concealed gun at Las Cruces Walmart

LAS CRUCES - A man suspected of being intoxicated and attempting to buy ammunition at a south Valley Drive Walmart was found by police to be in possession of a concealed handgun late Tuesday evening.

Christopher A. Aguirre, 32, who has addresses in Roswell and Belen, is charged with one count each of possession of a firearm by a felon, resisting or obstructing an officer, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Aguirre also had a warrant for his arrest from outside Las Cruces.
Shortly after 10 p.m. Tuesday, Las Cruces Police officers in the Walmart for an unrelated incident were asked by store security to help remove some individuals, including Aguirre, who appeared to be intoxicated.

As police attempted to confirm Aguirre's identity, one of the officers spotted the barrel of a handgun protruding from the pocket of the suspect's hoodie. Officers immediately attempted to secure the gun but Aguirre refused officers' commands and tried to keep them from removing the weapon.

After a brief struggle one of the officers was able to secure the firearm and Aguirre was placed under arrest.

The handgun was a .25 caliber semiautomatic. The handgun's magazine was determined to be unloaded and the weapon's serial number had been filed off. Walmart personnel told police that Aguirre had attempted to purchase ammunition prior to being asked to leave the store.

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Detectives determined that Aguirre has more than one felony conviction and more than one felony conviction for possession of a firearm within the past 10 years.

Aguirre was booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center with a cash-only bond set at $41,000